Why such long lines in Florida?

[iceman66]

I see a lot of news reports of very long lines for early voting in Florida. Are we seeing a repeat of what happened in Ohio in 2004, where Blackwell deliberately under-allocated voting machines to Democratic-leaning areas, or is there as more 'rational' explanation?

[Ian David]

1. They see a line and think it's a buffet? n/t

[Lorien]

2. Lots of new voters, not enough stations. n/t

[iceman66]

4. Is this happening statewide

or only in 'blue' areas?

[carpetbagger]

13. Not in Alachua County/Gainesville.

I went in yesterday at 4:30 and by 4:40 I was taking my completed ballot and sticking it in that big shredder-looking thing, at one of three early-voting sites in a blue county of about 220K.

Then again, Gainesville is one of those strange birds, where the people in the poor neighborhoods seem to wield equal political power. The library I voted at was on the suburban side of town (west of I-75), but I haven't heard of big lines at the main site, although I suspect today was a bit weird there given the proximity to a Michelle Obama appearence.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

3. Florida is the crotch of the U.S. We have the worst schools, no money is applied to anything

worthwhile, we spend our money building unnecessary stadiums, we allow natural resources to be turned into pavement, and we are where sociopaths and criminals come to hide. Do you really EXPECT elections to go smoothly here? :)

[1corona4u]

7. Bullshit. Speak for your own area.

You don't speak for the whole state, or my area. :mad:

[Beregond2]

12. A guy I know who is a teacher in FLA

tried to talk me into coming down there to teach. I told him I didn't have a teaching certificate and had never taken an education class in my life. To my amazement, he told me that didn't matter at all in Florida!

In fairness, I could also get a job as a teacher in NYC, and I wouldn't even have to go for an interview; they'll hire you online!

And we wonder why there are so many stupid Americans.

[1corona4u]

14. He was full of shit.

He probably shouldn't be teaching if he bullshitted the system. What's his name? What school does he work in?

[Beregond2]

16. I don't remember. It was some town on the beach,

but that covers a lot of Florida. A pretty poor area, I know.

I wasn't trying to single out FLA for abuse. I have since found out that the same thing is true in many places in this country.

[bedazzled]

5. there are six constitutional amendment questions on the ballot

most of them have six or seven short paragraphs
to read.

seems like folks are not doing their homework
ahead of time.

i waited 1.5 hours today to vote. my husband
got to vote but i had to go get my son from
school. rats, i'll have to spend some more time
next week.

[johnnydrama]

6. if i'm right

there are far less early voting places than election day polling places.

[bedazzled]

8. that's true. and according to my linemates, the venues are much smaller this year

wonder why that is? nevermind - i think i know!

[1corona4u]

11. There are, see my post.

Very few. On election day, you can practically throw a rock from one polling place to the next.

[quaker bill]

15. We have a winner!

The correct notion is far, far fewer early voting locations.

Second, the Obama campaign is making a huge organizing effort to push early voting. First, voting Obama is good and the sooner the better, bank the votes when you can. Second, folks who have voted early are then available to volunteer all day on election day.

I will be at a local rally and march on saturday to drive early voting. If people are fired up right now, let's get them to the polls, do it today, don't put it off.

Finally, I don't think the repug poll challengers are out in force for early voting, but expect they will be targeting democratic precincts heavily on election day. The early vote locations are not precinct based, but county wide, so early voters are far tougher to challenge as you cannot know when and where they might show up. On election day, the targeting will unfortunately be much easier.

[elleng]

9. Dunno, but here's a 'bit' of info:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-1022earlyvotingbroward,0,7498829.story

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-1022earlyvotingpalm,0,5947739.story

[1corona4u]

10. The ballots are brand new this year. They are paper.

There are a lot more people voting early, because it's relatively new to the state.(2004) In my area, there are 11 polling places from Jupiter, Fl to Boynton Beach, which is about 40 miles.

[nutshell2002]

17. In Broward county there are roughly 1 million registered voters and

17 early voting locations (vs about 500 voting precincts on election day). They also reduced the hours of operation at the early voting sites and my ballot was 4 double-sided pages due to the number of proposed constitutional amendments and county ballot measures.

Today I waited in line 1 1/2 hrs and all went smoothly; just A LOT of people.

Was treated to a protester in drag, CNN camera crews filming the crowds, a pickup truck driving around a huge Barack Obama portrait and poll workers encouraging cheering and applause for each first time voter.

All in all it was a very good day.